Hinge for containers



Oct. 19, 1965 Huss 3,212,125

HINGE FOR CONTAINERS Filed March 6, 1963 INVENTOR.

DONALD E. HUSSELL.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,212,125 HINGE FOR CONTAlNERS Donald E. Hussell, Roanoke, Va., assignor to Creative Packaging, Inc., Indianapolis, 11:11., a corporation of Indiana Filed Mar. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 263,319 1 Claim. (Cl. 16171) This invention relates to a hinge structure and in particular to an integral hinge for a molded plastic box.

There have been a number of types of hinges designed for molded plastic boxes, generally made of polystyrene material. In designing such hinges it is essential that the hinge be small in order to avoid detracting from the appearance and functions of the box. In most instances the hinge structure is of such a type that assembly of the two box sections requires temporary deflection of portions of the substantially rigid hinge elements. It is apparent that this deflection must be kept to a minimum in order to avoid breaking the hinge elements. The hinge must also be sufliciently strong to resist destruction when the box is accidentally dropped. Likewise, the hinge elements should cooperate to provide a hinge which is relatively free of play in order that the two box sections remain in alinement with each other. There have been several types of hinges which in an effort to be compact, have sacrificed some of the coupling strength that would otherwise be desired. Consequently, some hinges are subject to uncoupling due to accidental dropping of the box.

My invention comprises a structure which has been designed to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages. Briefly, my invention comprises a pintle which is journaled in a boss element. The pintle and boss are assembled through a very slight deflecting action which enables the two elements to become engaged with each other. The unique design of the boss is such that it envelops a substantial portion of the pintle. Consequently, the structure, while remaining small, is substantially stronger than other hinges. On the other hand, it is relatively easy to assemble but diflicult to inadvertently disassemble. Manufacturing costs are further reduced by a design which utilizes only two hinge elements which are integrally molded to their respective box sections.

It is, therefore, one object of my invention to provide a new and improved hinge which is relatively easy to assemble.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stronger hinge, whereby reducing the number of hinges required on large size boxes.

A further object of my invention is to provide hinge elements which are engaged with each other in such a manner as to prevent accidental uncoupling.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent upon reading the following specification in connection with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic box embodying two hinges of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinge elements in a disassembled position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinge elements in an assembled position with their box sections open; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinges in their assembled position with their two box sections closed.

Referring to FIG. 1, a box 11 comprising top and bottom sections 13 and 14 is shown in its closed position. The box is made of transparent polystyrene. A conventional latching device 16 maintains the sections in their closed position. The two sections are held together by two hinges 17 which are identical. Each hinge comprises 3,212,125 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 a boss 19 which is integraly molded with a box section and a pintle 20 which is likewise molded to a respective section. It is to be noted that each box section if so desired, may bear a pintle and a boss. The advantages of this procedure have been well recognized in the industry in that this enables a reduction in mold costs. Quite frequently two box section molds will be made with different depths and equal widths and lengths. By providing a pintle and a boss on each section the manufacturer is able to produce three boxes of different depths from the two molds. Three different molds can produce six sizes of boxes if each mold has a pintle and boss.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4 the pintle 20 is mounted to back edge 22 of a box section by a support element commonly called a gusset 23. In order to minimize the size of the hinge the gusset extends rearwardly from the edge of the box section only enough to provide clearance for the pintle 20 which extends parallel to the edge 22 of the box section from the gusset. In the particular illustration the pintle has a cylindrical shaft portion 25 terminated by a cylindrical collar 26.

The boss 19 is likewise integrally molded to the edge 22 of the box section and is rearwardly spaced from the edge by a gusset 27 at a distance comparable to that of the pintle. The boss has a recessed socket 29 at its closed end 30. Extending from this closed end 30 and its socket 29 is a semi-cylindrical arcuate bearing device 32 which is parallel to the edge 22 of the box section. Bearing device 32 is open preferably toward the plane of a box section in order to laterally receive the pintle when the two box sections are in the same plane. The bearing device further has a recessed portion which in the particular illustration is an aperture 33 bordered on one side by a narrow arcuate strip 34. The dimensions of the bearing device and its aperture 33 are such that they are complemental to the pintles collar 26 and shaft 25. Thus the pintle may be snugly positioned for limited rotation within the bearing device against the socket 29 of the boss.

In order to assemble the two box sections through coupling of their pintles and bosses it is essential that the sections lie in substantially the same plane as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. After the sections are so positioned the pintle may be moved toward the boss for engagement therewith. As the collar 26 of the pintle is butted up against the socket 29 of the boss its periphery will be partially exposed through the aperture 33 in the boss. A small amount of pressure may be necessary to momentarily increase the opening of aperture 33 in order to force the collar down into the aperture. A significant advantage of my unique hinge is that deflection of hinge parts is at a minimum and substantially limited to strip 34. The pintles collar 26 is retained in aperture 33 of the boss by an overhanging lip 36 on the boss. (See FIG. 3.) The dimensions of the pintle and boss are such that the pintle is now snugly journaled within the boss and its bearing device for limited rotation. If a small amount of play is permissible between the boss and pintle the width of aperture 33 may be increased to eliminate momentary deflection of the strip 34.

After the pintle has been assembled with the boss the two sections may be closed and the box is ready for use. Referring in particular to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the collar 26 of the pintle protrudes slightly through the aperture in the bearing device 32 of the boss. This complementary engagement between the surfaces of the pintle and boss restrains the relative movement of the two hinge members along the joint edge of the box. If desired, this movement along the joint edge may be substantially eliminated by maintaining close tolerances when molding the hinges and their box sections.

At first glance it would appear that the collar of the pintle would have a tendency to pop out of the bearing device. This is not likely to accidentally occur since the pintles collar 26 is wedged under lip 36 in aperture 33 between the socket 29 and strip 34. The cylindrical configuration of collar 26 also provides a large surface area for contact against strip 34, further insuring against accidental uncoupling. Once the two sections of the box are moved out of the same plane uncoupling is not at all possible without destroying the hinge. The collar 26 is prevented from axially moving away from the socket 29 because of its engagement with strip 34. Any effort to laterally move the pintle out of the bearing device and out from under lip 36 is prevented when the box sections are in different planes by the resulting abutment of each boss 19 and pintle 20 against its opposite box section edge 22.

While the illustrated embodiment of my invention shows a box with two hinges it is apparent that the unique features of my hinge permit a small box to function adequately with just one hinge. The overall width of the hinge is unusually small since the pintle terminates within the boss instead of straddling it.

Although only one embodiment of my invention has been illustrated it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that additional embodiments and modifications of my invention can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An integrally molded hinge for box sections, each section having a cylindrical pintle and a boss projecting from one side thereof in aligned spaced relation, each said pintle extending parallel to said box section side and having a circumferential collar at its end, each said boss having a socket with a semi-cylindrical bearing device extending therefrom parallel to the joint edge of the box sections for rotatably receiving said pintle, said bearing device having its open side toward the horizontal plane of the box with a clearance width slightly greater than the diameter of said pintle for receiving said pintle, said bearing device further having an aperture with an unstressed width slightly less than the thickness of said pintle collar and an unstressed length slightly less than the length of the pintle collar terminated by a resiliently flexible lip for pressured engagement with an end portion of said pintle collar whereby said pintle is inseparably maintained in abutment against said socket beneath a lip on said socket while the assembled box sections are positioned in different planes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 193,208 7/77 Arnold 16l28 230,491 7/80 Peer 16-171 273,395 3/83 Ross 16171 X 1,293,849 2/19 Massing 16173 1,632,630 6/27 Simmons 16-174 2,570,341 10/51 Hake l6171 X 2,590,955 4/52 Gershen 16-171 X 2,637,460 5/53 Yates. 2,765,488 10/56 Ruff. 3,061,137 10/62 Svoboda et al. 3,087,192 4/ 63 Hertzke.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

